Votive lamp



Sep 7, 5 R. BUREAU 3,204,433

VOTIVE LAMP Filed Dec. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Rayman 4/ BUREA U AT GRIYAYS Sept. 7, 1965 R. BUREAU 3,204,433

VOTIVE LAMP Filed Dec. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 //v VEA/ rox United States Patent 3,204,433 VOTIVE LAMP Raymond Bureau, 2080 de Fondville, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Filed Dec. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 245,807 3 Claims. (Cl. 67-80) The instant application relates to votive lamps that are used in churches for burning in front of images and statues.

Normally, these votive lamps consist of tinted glass containers within which candles are placed. Many disadvantages are inherent with such lamps, perhaps the greatest one of which is the maintenance that they require. Regularly, an attendant has to come and remove the remnants of the burnt candles, clean the containers and place fresh candles therein. This is a long and tedious work and relatively expensive in regard to the votive candles themselves. It must be remembered that church buildings normally have a great many of these votive candles and because of their number, the maintenance thereof is a problem.

It is therefore a primary object of the invention to alleviate the above-noted disadvantages by providing votive lamps that do not use the standard candles.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of votive lamps that will remain lighted for a predetermined length of time and will automatically extinguish themselves after the time has elapsed.

A further object of the invention in the provision of votive lamps which hardly require any maintenance thus reducing that particular cost to a bare minimum.

A still further object of the invention consists in providing votive lamps that will have the same appearance as the standard candles and will give out a similar light.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing votive lamps for burning oil that may be used in banks and wherein the same oil reservoir may be used for several lamps.

Still another object of the invention consists in the provision of votive lamps that are quite simple in structure, being made of a relatively few number of parts, reliable in operation and low in operating cost.

These objects are obtainable in a votive lamp comprising: a fixed support; an inflammable wick on said support; an upwardly spring-loaded plunger; flame blowout means at the upper end of said plunger, operatively connected thereto for extinguishing the wick when said plunger is in its upward position; holding means engageable with said plunger to retain it and said flame blowout means in retracted inoperative position for a predetermined length of time and to release said plunger for upward movement, after said time has elapsed, to allow said flame blow-out means to extinguish said wick.

The foregoing and other important objects of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds having regard to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a bank of votive lamps mounted on a graded support;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the mechanism of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, illustrating the lighting operation of a votive lamp made according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3, on a larger scale, showing the votive lamps during the burning process;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, partly cut away to show some internal structure, relating more particularly to a lighter as used to light up votive lamps according to the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a view in cross-sectional elevation of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 7 illustrates, in perspective view partly cut away, an oil lamp head to be used in a votive lamp according to the invention.

As previously mentioned, the votive lamps are for use in church buildings and are usually set up on a graded support 1 comprising several steps 3. There may be several lamps 5 to each step 3, four being shown in the instant illustration.

FIGURE 4, particularly illustrates that each votive lamp consists of an outer glass cylinder 7, normally tinted, mounted within a cup-shaped member or container 9, preferably made up of metal. For more easily placing the cylinders 7 into the containers 9, the latter may advantageously be beaded at the upper end 11 thereof.

The mechanism which makes up the votive lamps of the invention is best illustrated in FIGURE 2. It consists of a slider block made up of two assembled parts 13 and 15 that are held together by means of screws 17. Block parts 13 and 15 are preferably molded out of plastic material.

Block 13 is a somewhat angular member with a lateral wall 19 and back wall 21. Lateral wall 19 is further out with an inner groove 23 having a rearwardly facing inclined wall 25. The molding of block part 13 also provides for a wedge block 27 in the upper part of the back wall 21.

Slider block part 15 is substantially flat except for the provision of an inclined wall rearwardly disposed and tapering in a direction reverse that of inclined wall 25 with which it cooperates as will later be seen. Part 15 also has an ear 29 projecting out of the front face thereof. Ear 29 is provided with a circular bearing hole 31 for a purpose to be determined later.

A leaf spring 33, which is originally substantially straight, is secured in the front face of back wall 21 by means of screw 35 then bent downwardly, as shown.

In assembling parts 31 and 15 together, a looped wire spring 37 is slid on one of the screws 17 and tightly secured to block 15 with a frontal leg 37 projecting forwardly of block 15.

, In assembled condition, a square shaft 39 is made to extend through the bearing hole 31 and will receive thereon a sprocket wheel 41 adapted to partly register in the slot created, in assembled condition, by the lateral wall 19 and the frontal part of block 15.

A plunger, generally denoted by numeral 43 complements what may be termed the holding means abovedescribed. It is an elongated member having a lateral arm 45 with a downwardly projecting lug 47 integral therewith at one end thereof. The front face of plunger 43 is provided with at least one tooth 49 engageable with the sprocket wheel 41 as will later be explained. Finally, plunger 43 is molded with two lateral frontwardly inclined surfaces 51, only one being shown. The plunger is made to fit in the groove created between the aforesaid lateral wall 19 of block 13 and the frontal face of block 15 with the inclined surfaces 51 riding on inclined walls 25 and 25'.

To plunger 43, at the top thereof, is connected the wick blow-out means which consists of a sleeve-like member 53 having a cylindrical body 55 to one end of which is a flat circular platter 57 having a raised circumferential edge 59. A straight groove 61 is cut on both sides of the cylindrical body 55. In conjunction with sleeve-like member 53 is an actuator 63 preferably made of a piece of wire and comprising a straight rod 65 bent into a loop 67 at one end thereof and at right angles to the straight rod 65. Loop 67 is adapted to engage the two grooves 61 and for that purpose, the wire is bent in position, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, from an open position, illustrated in dotted lines.

In assembling the blow-out means, rod 65 with its sleeve member 53 is simply screwed on one end of plunger 43 by being threaded thereon or fixed in any other suitable way.

The burning equipment itself consists of an upright support 69, provided with a passage therethrough for a wick 71, one end of which is adapted to protrude out of the open end of support 69. Wick 71 extends, at the lower end thereof, into a bath of oil 73 in a container 75 secured underneath the steps of the graded support 1. Support 69 is secured by any known means to both the cup-shaped container 9 and the step 3.

As mentioned previously, oil container 75 may serve for all of the lamps of one particular step 3. This will result in a much simpler installation and considerable saving in maintenance time when the container 75 has to be filled with oil.

The holding means which has just been described in conjunction with FIGURE 2 is best illustrated in assembled condition in FIGURES 3 and 4. This is also true of the blow-out means shown in exploded view in the upper part of FIGURE 2.

Operation of the invention will best be understood by reference to FIGURES 3' and 4.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the votive lamp as it is about to be lit whereas FIGURE 4 depicts the condition when it is about to be extinguished.

In the instance of FIGURE 3, the lamp is shown about to be lit by a presser member 77 applied on the platter 57. As the presser element 77 presses on the sleeve-like member 53, plunger 43 moves down and tooth 49 becomes in meshing engagement with the sprocket wheel 41. This is made possible by the fact that the upper part of the plunger 43 pivots at the upper edge of the wedge block 27 while the lower end moves inwardly against the action of leaf spring 33. The same spring leaf 33 will move plunger 43 or tooth 49 in meshing engagement with sprocket wheel 41 when the downward action is terminated. This is the condition depicted in FIGURE 4. Sprocket wheel 41 rotates very slowly through a suitable speed reducing and motor arrangement. It will be noted that in this position, the top surface of platter 57 is completely below the burning wick 71. As the sprocket wheel slowly rotates, plunger 43 gradually moves upwardly under the action of return spring 37 which engages the lateral arm 45 of the plunger. There will come a time, however, when tooth 49 is competely disengaged from the sprocket wheel 41 and, under the urge of spring 37, the plunger 43 will suddenly move upwardly. The various parts of the mechanism are so designed that in the upward position of plunger 43, the top surface of the platter 57 will move clearly above the outer end of the wick 71, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 4. At that moment, the outer end of the wick will be within the cylindrical body 55. The rapidity with which the sleevelike member 53 moves past the flame, blows it off the wick and completely extinguishes it.

It will be understood from the above description that the predetermined time during which the wick is intended to burn may be controlled by the speed of the sprocket wheel 41. I

The lighter and presser member 77 to be used in conjunction with the votive lamp above described is illus trated in FIGURE 5.

It consists of a hollow handle 79 adapted to contain a wick 81 embedded in an oil-soaked material 83. A rod 87 is fixed to said handle in alignment therewith and is first bent at right angles and then into a presser element 89 in the form of a ring. That presser element lies normal to the first perpendicular bend. A tube 91,

which has one end opening into the hollow handle and through which the wick 81 extends, projects out of the handle and extends parallel to the rod 87, then bends along with the latter at right angles and makes a second bend 93 above the presser element 89. The distance between the bend 93 and the presser element is determined by the distance plunger 43 has to move downwardly in order to get a good gripping engagement with the sprocket wheel 41.

From the above description of the lighter and presser member 77, it will be gathered that in order to light wick 71, wick 81 is first lit and the presser element 89 is applied against platter 57 and pressed down so as to force plunger 43 and tooth 49 in meshing engagement with wheel 41.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, more particularly a second flame blow-out means.

In this case, a lever 95, pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on a bracket 99 supported by the upright support 69 has one end provided with a blow-off cap 101 while the other end is made to follow the movement of an upwardly moving straight rod 65' through a pin and slot connection 103 adapted for lost motion therebetween.

Straight rod 65 is provided with an axial slot 105 within which is received one end of an operating arm 107, the other end of which is secured to plunger 43 having a cylindrical extension 109 adapted to protrude through a step 3 of the graded support 1 in front of each votive lamp.

With such an arrangement, whenever cylindrical protrusion or press button 109 is pressed down, operating arm 107 forces straight rod 65 downwardly thus allowing lever to pivot with the blow-off cap 101 away from the flame of the wick 71. At the same time, tooth 49 becomes in meshing engagement with sprocket wheel 41 in the above described manner and the latter keeps on rotating, slowly, in clockwise direction while retaining the plunger 43 and preventing its release. After a predetermined time, however, the said plunger 43' is released and, under the action of the loop wire spring 37 (not shown in FIGURE 6), plunger 43 suddenly moves upwardly and for a short time has no effect on the blow-off lever 95 since the operating arm 107 freely rides in the slot 105. However, after a while, arm 107 hits the upper part of slot and gives straight rod 65' a sudden upward movement. As a result, blow-off cap 101 is brought into engagement with and extinguishes the flame of wick 71 by pivoting in the clockwise direction. Upward movement of straight rod 65' and operating arm 107 is stopped when the arresting shoulder 111 hits the undersurface of the step 3, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6.

The wick retaining cap or oil lamp head used in the instant invention is of particular interest and is shown in details in FIGURE 7. It consists, as aforesaid, of a tubular support 69 terminated, at the upper end, into an open chamber 113 which is an enlargement of the bore of support 69 and which provides a seat 115 for the reception of a terminal piece 117 having a cylindrical hollow body through which the wick extends. The body is crimped at one end so as to prevent wick 71 from falling into the support 69 and is further provided with a flange at the other end thereof adapted to rest on the seat 115.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be construed in the limited sense given by the above specific description and its scope should be derived from the appended claims only.

I claim:

1. A votive lamp comprising: a fixed support, an inflammable wick on said support, a plunger, a flame blowout means circumferentially positioned about said wick and located at the upper end of said plunger, the plunger being provided with at least a tooth projecting from its surface thereof, a rotatable ratchet wheel, spring means to keep the plunger in contact with the ratchet wheel, resilient means to urge the plunger in an upward position, said tooth meshing with said wheel upon said plunger being moved downwardly in retracted position, the rotation of the said ratchet Wheel permitting a slow elevation of the plunger during a predetermined arc and releasing the tooth for a sudden upward movement of the blow-out means to extinguish said wick.

2. A votive lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blow-out means is a sleeve member coaxial with said support and movable therealong and having a top surface; said sleeve being so connected to said plunger that in downward retracted position, said top surface lies below said wick and in said upward position, said top surface lies thereabove with the wick substantially co1npletely within said sleeve so as to produce extinction thereof.

3. A votive lamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blow-out means is a lever having a blow-out cap at one end thereof; said lever being pivoted intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end operatively joined to said plunger so that in retracted position said cap lies clear of said wick and in flame-extinguishing position it rests on said wick so as to produce extinction thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 404,055 5/89 Reichels 67-80 458,660 9/91 McCormic 67-2.1 477,267 6/92 Price 67-80 $92,450 10/97 Saul et a1. 158-10 619,261 2/99 Recker 158-10 736,538 8/03 Newsom 67-2.1 897,712 9/08 Brusseau 67-2.1 915,512 3/09 Vargason 67-53 924,654 6/09 Fox 67-55 1,496,798 6/24 Weiler 67-78 2,741,904 4/56 Stelle et a1. 67-78 2,879,378 3/59 Hemphill 67-55 X EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VOTIVE LAMP COMPRISING: A FIXED SUPPORT, AN INFLAMMABLE WICK ON SAID SUPPORT, A PLUNGER, A FLAME BLOWOUT MEANS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY POSITIONED ABOUT SAID WICK AND LOCATED AT THE UPPER END OF SAID PLUNGER, THE PLUNGER BEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST A TOOTH PROJECTING FROM ITS SURFACE THEREOF, A ROTATABLE RATCHET WHEEL, SPRING MEANS TO KEEP THE PLUNGER IN CONTACT WITH THE RATCHET WHEEL, RESILIENT MEANS TO URGE THE PLUNGER IN AN UPWARD POSITION, SAID TOOTH MESHING WITH SAID WHEEL UPON SAID PLUNGER BEING MOVED DOWNWARDLY IN RETRACTED POSITION, THE ROTATION OF THE SAID RATCHET WHEEL PERMITTING A SLOW ELEVATION OF THE PLUNGER DURING A PREDETERMINED ARC AND RELEASING THE TOOTH FOR A SUDDEN UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BLOW-OUT MEANS TO EXTINGUISH SAID WICK. 